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Just For Fun

Saturday Surfing

November 14th, 2009 by Karen 10 Comments

1114-saturday-surfing-final

Lovely. My stomach just growled at me for not having lunch ready yet. It’s even worse than Tabs, always clamoring for something to eat!

I sure hope it likes steamed artichokes and tomato soup…

What are you up to today? I spent some time e-surfing this morning and found a few choice pickings (beauty and otherwise). Hope you’re having a nice weekend so far. 🙂

  • Gwen’s Harajuku Lovers are rockin’ bikinis for spring, TOO CUTE! — Bella Sugar
  • Up your style with these November tips — Icing
  • G is for Glitter! Feed your inner glitter monster with China Glaze’s Meteor Shower — Temptalia
  • Um, can I eat these (soap nuts)? — The Notice
  • Let’s be better together with a week of slight improvements — Too Pretty For This
  • 7 ways to avoid nail polish stains — All Lacquered Up
  • All the things you DON’T have to know — A Beautiful Ripple Effect
  • Kiehl’s Rare Earth Pore Minimizing collection keeps those pores in line — We Heart This
  • 5 ways to fake healthy hair — Daily Beauty Reporter Blog
  • What’s the secret to becoming amazingly great at something? — Zen Habits
  • Why stress can kill your success or help your blog succeed — Pro Blogger

Amazing what some people accomplish in their spare time…

Found it!

If your kids ask you how babies are made…

I better get my booty in gear. This place ain’t gonna clean itself, LOL!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 10 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Urban Decay Show Pony Palette: What’s Your Favorite Shadow?

November 14th, 2009 by Karen 20 Comments

urban decay show pony palette open

Good morning, ladies. 🙂 How was your night? The only thing I did was go to the movies to see The Box, the new sci-fi thriller starring Cameron Diaz and cutie pie James Marsden, but the highlight was probably the popcorn.

I went expecting a lot since the movie’s based on a short story by one of my favorite horror writers, Richard Matheson (also wrote I am Legend, Stir of Echoes and Hell House), but I thought it was a little slow, confusing and disjointed at parts.

LOVED the ’70s-era styling, though, and left the theater wanting to feather my hair and find bellbottoms and a long silk scarf, fo’ reals!

What are you up to today? I’ve got some household chores (boo), but after those I plan to reward myself with some me time and Urban Decay’s Show Pony Palette ($30).

How do you feel about the packaging? The design’s by Kime Buzzelli, an artist, fashion designer and the owner of the Echo Park clothing boutique.

urban decay show pony 2

It’s limited edition but has been out for a few months already. I wish I’d gotten wind of it sooner because I’m kinda ga-ga over the shadows.

I can’t decide on a fave…

urban decay show pony swatches 1 thru 3

urban decay show pony swatches 4 thru 6

urban decay show pony swatches all

Which of the Urban Decay Show Pony Palette eyeshadows do you like best?

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The palette has six swoon-worthy, shimmery shadows; a travel-sized 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil (in Zero) and one of UD’s mini Eyeshadow Primer Potions, too.

urban-decay-show-pony-zero-primer-potion
From left to right: 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero, Eyeshadow Primer Potion

If you have eyes for Show Pony (or something else from Team UD), here’s a great deal that’s going on now: Save a whopping 30% with Urban Decay’s online Friends and Family sale (valid through Nov. 20). Enter code “FNFW1” at checkout and hit “Redeem Coupon.” Hey, you’ve been good this year, right? Um, RIGHT? 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 20 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Makeup Keywords: urban decay

Bloggerati Spotlight

November 13th, 2009 by Karen 5 Comments

The Beauty Bloggerati

Rise and shine, morning glories. 🙂 Can you believe it’s another Friday already? Was there even a Tuesday this week, LOL?

While I make myself presentable and crank up the generator that is my coffee-fueled brain, take a moment to warm up with the gals in Daily Makeover’s Beauty Bloggerati.

    Tammy Gibson: A Mom in Red High Heels

  • Beauty tips from Petra Strand of the Pixi Beauty line — A Mom in Red High Heels
  • Tested: 3 holiday products for your man — Makeover Momma
  • How to get glamorous waves — Hair Thursday
  • GROSS! Why you might want to change your shower head, ASAP! — Beauty Blogging Junkie
  • DIY: A Freida Pinto makeup look — Talking Makeup
  • Cute! Bling me this eco-friendly jewelry for Xmas — The Jet Set Girls
  • A quick peek at Shiseido’s Rich Rocks collection for the holidays — Makeup Bag
  • How to keep your foundation from smearing — Spoiled Pretty
  • Where’s the remote? NARS is coming to QVC — Product Girl
  • Even more dry winter skin tips — Beyond Beauty Basics

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 5 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Snow Bunny Beauty Tips

November 12th, 2009 by Karen 17 Comments

beauty-on-the-slopes

Snow bunny Jo wants to look her best this winter, and she’s getting ready for a grand adventure on the slopes.

Hiya Karen (oops, feel like I know you!),

I’m about to go skiing for 5 months. I’ve always used cream blush (especially the MAC ones), but now I need one that will give strong color but that won’t rub off too easily with goggles, gloves and possibly snow!

I’m terrified about beauty on the slopes to be honest, so any advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Jo

Hi, Jo. 🙂 Sounds like an awesome trip. I’m really excited for you!

Before we start, I gotta come clean. Snow and I don’t always get along (I’m more of a surfer girl), but here are some things that should help keep your makeup where it belongs.

1. Start with a makeup primer

Primers are typically colorless lotions or gels applied before foundation, blush and/or powder to anchor your makeup in place. It’s simple: when I wear a primer, my blush lasts longer, and I don’t have to reapply as often throughout the day. Take a look at Korres Face Primer; deluxe sample tubes are just $10 at Sephora.

2. Try a layer of powder blush above your cream blush

Whenever I wear a cream blush, dusting a layer of powder blush on top really seems to lock in the color. If you can swing by the MAC counter before your trip, bring some of your favorite cream blushes with you, and ask the MAC makeup artists for coordinating powder blush recommendations. Oh, and if you don’t have one already, shop around for a good blush brush. I really like the MAC 129 ($34).
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There are 17 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Beauty Tips, Just For Fun, Makeup Tips/How To

Two Ways to Win Philosophy’s Hope for the Best!

November 11th, 2009 by Karen 308 Comments

win philosophy hope for the best top

Winter’s right around the corner brrr..., and for many of us that means switching up ye olde skin care routine to include richer, more moisturizing products.

But no matter which season we’re talking about, one product I won’t stop turning to is Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser.

A creamy face wash for dirt, oil and makeup, it never rubs my combination dry/oily skin the wrong way, and that makes it a staple in my skin care arsenal.

It also brings me to the topic of this post…

Ready for a mid-week giveaway? 🙂

The prize

One lucky lady will win Philosophy’s Hope For the Best kit, with a bottle of Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser, one Hope in Jar face cream and an Eye Hope eye cream (a $42 value).

win philosophy hope for the best box 1

win philosophy hope for the best box 2

How to enter…

2ways2enterEntering is easy. There are two different ways, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.

First, you can enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post. In it, tell me about something you hope for. Your answer can be as long or as short as you like.

I hope my friends and family stay healthy for many years to come, and even though the odds are totally stacked against me, I kinda hope I win the lottery.

Follow me
Second, enter by following me on Twitter and retweeting (RT) the following message:

RT @karenmbb: RT to win Philosophy’s Hope for the Best skin care (a $42 Value) http://bit.ly/4iRSBL

Recap…

  1. Enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, and don’t forget to use a valid email address so I can reach you if you win.
  2. Follow me on Twitter and retweet the following message:

    RT @karenmbb: RT to win Philosophy’s Hope for the Best skin care (a $42 value) http://bit.ly/4iRSBL

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Friday, November 13.

ขอให้โชคดี!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 308 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Sandra Bullock: Her Best Hair?

November 11th, 2009 by Karen 21 Comments

sandra-bullock-hair-poll

The year was 1995; the movie was The Net, starring newbie movie starlet Sandra Annette Bullock (born July 26, 1964).

Does anyone else remember watching that movie and wondering, “What’s this Internet thing they keep talking about?” LOL! Times sure have changed. 🙂

Sandra was just three credits shy of a degree from East Carolina University when she dropped everything and headed to New York to pursue acting.

Things worked out, to say the least, with more than 30 films to her credit, among them, Speed, Miss Congeniality, Crash and, most recently, The Proposal (which I really liked!).

Which of Sandra's hairstyles do you like best?

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 21 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Hair, Just For Fun

Tuesday Beauty Tips: 9 Things to Do on Your Next Trip to San Francisco

November 10th, 2009 by Karen 67 Comments

Welcome to San Francisco

Ah, the things we do for Cupid…

After I met and fell in love with El Hub, I wanted to be closer to him, so I left my favorite city of San Francisco and moved the 10 miles north across the Golden Gate Bridge to the suburbs of Marin.

I like it here, but I’m a city girl at heart. I miss SF’s bustling beauty scene, and the city’s diversity, restaurants, museums and clubs.

081609-the-city-at-dusk-small
San Francisco at dusk

Which is why I love to visit. 🙂 If you’re planning a trip to San Francisco and looking for Bay Area adventure, you’ve come to the right place! Here are 9 of my favorite things to do in the city.
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There are 67 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Beauty Tips, Just For Fun, Top Posts Keywords: 9things

What’s the WORST Beauty Decision You Ever Made?

November 10th, 2009 by Karen 53 Comments

111009-worst-beauty-decision

Ah… so many to choose from! But my WORST ones involve bad hair.

Remember Dorothy Hamill?

At the tender age of five, I allowed my grandmother, bless her heart, to perm my hair. She was enrolled in beauty school at the time and got my mom’s permission to practice perming skills on me. Dorthy Hamill bowl cut + too tight perm = hair of horrors!!!

Finals destination

One time back in college I walked into a random $8 haircut chop shop on a whim and told the stylist to do “whatever she wanted” to my shoulder-length black hair. It was during finals; I was broke, sleep-deprived out of my mind, and convinced that my hair was weighing down my brain. I probably should’ve left when it occurred to me that the other people in the waiting area were screaming children and dudes who looked like they never showered, but I was already in the chair. 🙂 Fifteen minutes later, I had my brand new lopsided triangle haircut, way too short and puffed up at the sides, WHEE! It looked horrible and took months to grow out.

Brow beating

Do not — I repeat — DO NOT attempt to wax your eyebrows unless you’re wide awake and alert. I learned this lesson the hard way last summer…

Care to ‘fess up? Come on, don’t be shy. 🙂 What’s the WORST beauty decision you ever made?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 53 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog

Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog! My name is Karen, and I’m a freelance writer obsessed with makeup.

Makeup and Beauty Blog features daily product reviews, makeup tips and beauty news — like an interactive version of a monthly print magazine, except with occasional pictures of my cat.

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